Camera-shutter release



A. S. WARNE. CAMERA SHUTTER RELEASE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1919.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921 Eiql- 1' mum-3o res rnrem orrica.

ARTHUR S. WARNE, OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COL' UMBIA, CANADA.

GAMERA-SE'UTTER RELEASE.

Application filed July 21,

' Camera Shutter Release, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an indicating counter for the shutteroperating mechanism of a camera. The ordinary camera operator is liableto overlook rotation of the film before making another exposure, or ifhe does rotate the film he may do it subconsciously and has no means ofascertaining definitely that he has done so, unless he remembers thenumber of exposures he has taken, which should correspond with theexposure number of the film. As a consequence film developers will admitthat a very large number of double exposures occur.

To overcome this difiiculty, this invention is designed to indicate thenumber of shutter exposures, which number should correspond with thenumber on the film exposed.

The invention is particularly described in the following specification,reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, inwhich: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section to an enlarged scale showingthe connection of the shutter operating plunger to the counter mechanismby which the movements of the plunger are indicated.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionof the counter casing and lts nipplewith its removable cap detached;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the indlcating cylinder and its spring.

.' Fig. 4 is a plan of the upper face of the bottom of the same.

Figs. 5 and 6 show in plan and elevation the ratchet washer by whichendwise movement of the stem partially rotates the indicating c linder.

Figs. 8 and 9 show in plan, vertical section and side elevation theretaining check Specification of Letters Patent.

the ste Patented Get. 25, 19211. 1919. Serial No. 312,328.

tube 3 by pressing the plunger button 4 on the end of a stem 5 in whichthe end of the rod 2 is secured. This stem 5 is square in cross sectionand at 6 where it is connected to the rod 2 bears against a coil spring7 which is within the tubular nipple 8 which receives the end of theflexible tube 3.

I Secured on the outer end of this nipple 8 1s a hollow cylindricalcasing 9, in the wall of which is a circular viewing aperture 10.

The open end of this cylinder is closable with a cap 11 through whichthe stem 5 axially pa'sses the aperture fitting the square of the stem.Means is provided at 12 for insur ingthat the cap 11 fits .on the casingin a definite position n relation to the square of Within thecylindrical casing 9 is an indicatlng cylinder 13 which is relativelyshorter than the casing and the edge, of the open end of it is providedwith V-shaped notches 14:, corresponding to the number of exposures ofthe film. The closed end of this cylinder is apertured to pass freelyonto the stem 5 without fitting its square and the inner face of theclosed end has ratchet notches l5 impressed or otherwise formed in it,the number of which should be an even factor of the number of theserrations 14.

This cylinder 13 is held up against the underside of the cap 11 by alight spring 16 between its underside and the bottom end of thecylindrical casing 9. The square stem 5 adjacent its connection to theflexible rod 2 has a partial twist imparted to it, as at 17, the amountof twist being fully that fraction of a revolution corresponding to thenumber of exposures of the reel.

Resting on the notched face of the lower end of the indicatingcylinder'13 is a washer nut 18 closely fitting the square of the stem 5,so as to be partially rotated back and forth by the twist of the stem asthe stem is pressed downward through it and returns. This washer has itsunder face provided with ratchet notches 19 corresponding with those 15of the cylinder 13. It is held in light engagement with the face ,13 bya coil spring 20.

Just clear of the outer edge of the washer 18 so as to allow for therise and fall of the washer overthe ratchet notches, is a small hollowcylinder 21 from the upper side of'which are diametrically opposed Vshaped projections designed to fit between the serrations 14 filmexposures for which the device is designed, which numbers, as thecylinder rotates, may be viewed successively through the aperture 10 ofthe casing 9.

In use, if the plunger 5 is pressed down against the resistance of thespring 7, to release the exposure shutter, the washer 18 is partiallyrotated by virtue of the twist 17 of the square stem 5 and, by virtue ofthe notches 19 of the nut washer engaging the notches 15 of theindicating cylinder, carrice with it the indicating cylinder 13. As theindicating cylinder rotates its serrations 14 pass over the keyprojections 22by which the cylinder is retained in the position to whichit has been moved while the washer 18 returns during backward movementof the stem 5.

Although the device is apparently complicated in its number of parts,those parts are exceedingly simple to manufacture in quantity and arereadily assembled, and the device is not liable to derangement.

It will be noticed that the friction of the twist 17 of the stem in thesquare hole of the nut washer 18 tends to press the indicating cylinder13 downward against the light spring 16 which holds the notches 14 ofthat cylinder on the check detents 22, and the notched upper edge of theindicating cylinder is enabled to pass readily over the detents 22without the exercise of much resistance against rotation. Thisinpractice produces a smooth working but positive counter, for thespring 20 is in opposition to the spring 16, leavin only a slightpreponderance of stren h 1n the spring 16 tending to hold the notc es 14of the indicating cylinder on the check detents 22.

- Again, by carrying the cylindrical portion 21 of the detents 22downward toward the washer 18 to be just clear of it as it rises overthe ratchet notches, that washer may be made relatively thin and thenecessity of forming the square aperture to accord with the twist of thestem' is avoided, which it would be necessary to do ifjthenut washer wasthick enough to prevent it'clutching the stem by canting slightly.

To enable the casing cylinder 9 to be turned on its axis to direct ltsviewing aperture 10 toward the operator, that cylinder The may bemounted to swivel axially on its connection to the nipple; 8, somewhatas shown in Fig; 10. I

The essential feature of the invention lies in the provisionvof anindicator on the shutter release mechanism whichmay be checked up withrotation of the-film to provide for a fresh exposure.

Having now particularlydescribed my invention, I hereby declare thatwhat I claim as new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

.1. A means for indicating, said means comprising the combination with astem rectangular in cross section, said stem having a partial twist, ahollow casing provided with a viewing aperture through the cover ofwhich casing saidstem is endwise movable with provision preventingrotation of it in relation to the casing, an indicator cylinderrotatably mounted within the casing and having aroundits peripherynumbers corresponding to the number of exposures of the camera .film',the upper edges of said cylinder having a corresponding number ofnotchesldesigned to engage a retaining detent projecting from the upperendof the casing and engaging projections across the upper face of theclosed end of the cylinder, a spring tending to maintain the plungerstem at the outer limit of its movement, a spring holding the notchedupper edge of the indicating cylinder in engagement with the projectionsfrom the casing, a nut washer apertured to fit the endwise movable stemand be partially rotated by its twist, said nut washer having ratchetprojections corresponding in number to the indicating numbers of thecylinder and adapted to engage the projections in the closed catingcylinder, and a spring tending to hold the nut Washer with its ratchetface in engagement with the radial projections of the indicatingcylinder.

'2. Ar means for indicating, said means comprising a square stem, apartial twist, an apertured casing cylinder having a nipple secured toone closed end in axial alinement with the cylinder, said nipple havinga passage into which the stem release cable is adapted to pass, saidnipple being chambered from the inner end to receivea coil springbetween it and the end of the stem, a cover removably secured to theopen end cover the stem is axially movable with provision preventingrotatlon therein, an indithe casing, one end of which cylinder is end ofthe indisaid stem having of the cylinder through which provided withnotches corresponding in numlzl'er to the maximum number of indicationsfor which the indicator is adapted, which notches engage projections inthe upper. end of the casing cylinder, and the Opposlte end ratchetengaging projections, a

stem Within the indicating cylinder and having ratchet teethcorresponding to the number of film exposures, and a spring holding theratchet teeth of the nut washer in light engagement with the engagingprojections of the indicating cylinder.

3. An indicating means comprising a stem rectangular in cross sectionand having a partialtwist, a hollow casing provided with a viewingaperture through the cover of which casing the plunger stem is endwisemovable with provision preventing rotation of it in relation to thecasing, an indicating cylinder rotatably mounted within the easing, saidcylinder having around its peri hery numbers corresponding to the num erof indications, the upper edge of said cylinder having a correspondingnumber of notches designed to engage a retaining detent projecting fromthe inner upper end of the casing and engaging projections across theupper face of the closed end of the cylinder, a spring tending tomaintain the plunger stem at the outer limit of its movement, a springholding the notched upper edge of the indicating cylinder in engagementwith the projections from the casing, a nut washer apertured to fit theendwise movable stem and be partially rotated by its twist, said nutwasher having ratchet projections corresponding in number to theindicating numbers of the cylinder and adapted to engage the projectionsin the closed end of the indicating cylinder, and a spring tending tohold the nut washer with its ratchet face in engagement with the radialprojections of the indicating cylinder.

4. An indicating means comprising a square stem having a partial twist,an apertured casing cylinder having a nipple secured to one closed endin axial alinement with the cylinder through which nipple the flexiblecable is endwise movable, said nipple being chambered from the inner endto receive a coil spring between it and the end of the-stem, a coverremovably secured to the open end of the cylinder through which coverthe stem is axially movable with provision for preventing rotationtherein, an indicating cylinder rotatably mounted within the casing, oneend of which cylinder is provided with notches corresponding in numberto the maximum number of indications for which the device is adapted,which notches engage projections in the upper end of the casingcylinder, and the opposite end ratchet engaging projections, a springholding the notches of the indicating cylinder in light engagement withthe projections of the casing, a nut washer fitting. the square of thestem within the indicating cylinder and having ratchet teethcorresponding to the number of indications, and a spring holding theratchet teeth of the nut washer in light v engagement with the engagingprojections of the indicating cylinder.

5. An indicating means comprising a stem having a partial twist and acasing provided with a vlewing aperture, a cover through which the stemis axially movable but not In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

ARTHUR s. WA NE.

